Sept. 6, 2002, Legislative Bulletin

Session limits fails in House
after several members switch sides

After three hours of sometimes serious, sometimes farcical debate, the House on Wednesday rejected session limits legislation by a vote of 54-59. NCCBI leaders had never predicted victory on the issue but were stunned by the outcome because several House members who had given verbal commitments to vote for the bill or who had said they were leaning toward supporting it, switched and voted against the legislation. The bill, S. 94 Session Limits, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. David Hoyle (D-Gaston), was NCCBI's top priority in the General Assembly this year. The bill would have limited the length of legislative sessions to 180 days in odd-numbered years and to 90 days in even-numbered years, with a 20-day extension available if needed. Because the legislation would require an amendment to the state Constitution, it needed three-fifths approval in the House, or 72 votes.

Republicans and Democrats were almost equally divided on the issue. Of the 54 who voted for the bill, 29 were Democrats and 25 were Republicans. Of the 59 who voted against it, 29 were Democrats and 30 were Republicans. See the "How They Voted" list below.

Among those whose votes surprised NCCBI was Minority Leader Leo Daughtry of Smithfield. He had told NCCBI on several occasions that he supported session limits. But when it was time to vote, Daughtry didn't vote at all, either for or against the bill.

"The people lost on this issue," said NCCBI President Phil Kirk. "While I certainly hope to retire some day, we need to create a situation in the General Assembly where active, working people can serve. It is becoming increasingly clear that one has to be wealthy and/or retired in order to serve in the General Assembly, and that is not right."

Interviewed by the Winston-Salem paper, NCCBI Vice President of Governmental Affairs Leslie Bevacqua said, "I think the public is going to be very disappointed in this vote. I think it shows they simply do not want a deadline. I think that came through loud and clear that they do not want to be constrained by deadlines."

The Senate has passed session limits five times in recent years. But Wednesday was the first time the issue has come up on the House floor. Speaker Jim Black had promised NCCBI on several occasions that there would be a floor vote on session limits, and he delivered on that promise. The vote came on the 100th day of the legislative session, which began in late May and should have ended around the first of July with adoption of a revised state budget for the fiscal year. But after more than two months into the year a budget hasn't been adopted and other issues remain at loose ends. The General Assembly has failed to adopt a budget on time in 20 of the past 22 years. Last year, the General Assembly set a record for length of its sessions; it convened in January and finally went home in early December.

Majority Leader Phil Baddour of Goldsboro spoke forcefully for the legislation. "This bill is perhaps the only way that we are going to be able to preserve for the state of North Carolina a citizen legislature," he said. "More and more of us come from the ranks of the retired or the ranks of the independently wealthy. We find that young people with families, we find that professionals, we find that people with active businesses are not willing to serve because they don't know when we'll be done."

Rep. Joni Bowie (R-Guilford) said many legislators do have real jobs. "I am mystified why people think we don't have a citizen legislature. There are going to be a lot of people who can't come down here because it's not their time in life. If you have young children, you don't belong here," she said.

House Speaker Pro Tem Joe Hackney (D-Orange) argued that limiting the length of legislative sessions would cause the General Assembly to lose some power to the governor. "We take too long sometimes, and we engender sometimes a feeling that we are an unruly bunch. But it is democracy, and it's one-third of our government," he said.

On Tuesday, the bill almost didn't make it out of committee, even after it was amended to strike a Senate proposal to double legislators' terms to four years. It was narrowly approved Tuesday by the House Rules Committee in a 15-13 vote, and only after Rep. Wilma Sherrill (R-Buncombe) cast the deciding vote in favor of the bill.

Rep. Sherrill "is to be commended for listening to the debate and to her constituents and then voting for the session limits amendment in the Rules Committee and then on the floor," Kirk said. "Had she not changed her position, the amendment likely would not have come to the floor for a recorded vote."

The session limits bill had been amended to make it more attractive to House opponents. As passed by the Senate, sessions would be limited to 135 days during odd-numbered years and 60 days during even-numbered years. The House extended odd-numbered year sessions to 180 days. The Senate bill also provided for a two-day organizational meeting for the General Assembly to elect its leaders.

North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast without any limit on how long its legislature can remain in session. Thirty-eight states impose session limits, either in the constitution, by statute or by cutting off legislators' pay after certain dates.

Here are some comments from House members who supported session limits:

“Human nature says that if we have goals to complete our work, we will more likely do so…. Business people and people with families find it difficult to serve because they don’t know how long they need to be in Raleigh.” Rep. Phil Baddour of Goldsboro.

“We should have a citizen legislature open to all walks of life…The current system creates stress on family and businesses. It is going to restrict many people from serving in the General Assembly…This body is a policy-setting body. We should set policy and not monitor the day-to-day operation. Leave it up to staff to do that…We were in session 11 out of 12 months last year. When you’re in session that long, it’s hard to keep in touch with people at home in your districts.” Jeff Barnhart of Concord.

“All of us have to know that we waste some time in this process. In any of our jobs, deadlines are important.” Rep. Ed McMahan of Charlotte

“I’ve had a 'road to Damascus’ experience with session limits. I’ve been converted by the reality of it.” Rep. Wayne Goodwin of Rockingham, an opponent turned supporter.

“We need a citizen legislature. When a person commits to run, you would know the time you will spend away from your family and your business. These are generous limits…We have a professional staff that serves the members well. I’ve found the staff to be just as responsive between sessions.” Rep. Art Pope of Raleigh.

“We are one of the most populous states without a full-time legislature. We are at a crossroads… I do not believe we are too large to maintain a citizen legislature. We are here as human beings. Human beings have to have deadlines." Rep. Dan Barefoot of Lincolnton.

“I was against session limits. Now I support session limits. The provisions in this bill would give us 200 days, folks. How long do we need?” Rep. Bill Owens of Elizabeth City.

“I’m an enthusiastic supporter. We’ve got to have something to stop this runaway legislature. This would be the brick wall to do that." Rep. Michael Decker of Walkertown.

“This is a recurring nightmare. It’s like 'Ground Hog Day’ and every day you wake up and it’s the same thing.” Rep. John Blust of Greensboro.

“What do these legislative sessions cost us? It costs $3.6 million per month for the General Assembly to be in session… We need to do the right thing and go home.” Rep. Stan Fox of Oxford.

Leaders consider packing the lottery into compromise budget
Democratic leaders on Thursday floated the idea of rolling the lottery into a compromise budget bill that may emerge soon from the House-Senate conference committee. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight said it was the governor's idea to attach the lottery to the budget bill, and House Speaker Jim Black indicated he may reluctantly go along. Gov. Mike Easley included a lottery -- and a speculative $250 million in lottery revenue -- in the proposed budget he sent legislators earlier this year. Black has promised lottery supporters a vote on the issue. Observers believe a lottery might stand a better chance if it were attached to the budget because some fence-sitting members might be reluctant to vote against a compromise budget bill just because it includes the lottery. There was speculation that a compromise budget might emerge early next week, more than two months after the start of the fiscal year. A continuing budget resolution passed last week can keep the state running through the end of the month.

House panel debates bill to help local governments pay for tourism facilities
The House Finance Committee refused Thursday to delete sports arenas from a list of qualified tourism-related projects that local governments could pay for through part of the sales taxes the facilities generate. The committee rejected an amendment to H. 1751 N.C. Tourism Development Act (Ed McMahan) Thursday that would have eliminated sports arenas from a list of qualifying projects that could quality for the Travel and Tourism Capital Incentive Grant Program envisioned in the bill. However, the committee did not vote on the overall bill. The legislation would establish the grant program in the Department of Commerce, which would make grants to local governments equal to a percentage of the state sales taxes and business privilege taxes generated by the tourism-related facility. The percentage would be highest -- 35 percent -- in poor counties and lowest -- 25 percent -- in affluent areas. The grant could only be used for capital costs, including debt service. Opponents charged that the legislation is mainly intended to help Charlotte finance a new arena for a future NBA franchise.

Legislative Actions

The House on Tuesday gave second- and third-reading approval to two pieces of environmental legislation and sent them on to the Senate. Approved were H. 1564 Inactive Hazardous Sites Amendments (Joe Hackney) and H. 1572 Environmental Reports Amendments (Pryor Gibson).

The House on Wednesday gave third-reading approval to S. 1161 Amend Use Value Statutes/Other Tax Laws (Fletcher Hartsell) and returned the bill to the Senate for concurrence in amendments.

The House on Wednesday concurred with Senate amendments to H. 1540 Disapprove CAMA Act Rule (Bill Culpepper) and the measure was enrolled.

The House on Thursday unanimously approved H. 1785 N.C. Child Alert Notification/Amber Alert (Michael Decker), a measure designed to use the Emergency Broadcast System on radio and other public-alert systems to find abducted children. The measure now goes to the Senate. Several states recently have adopted such programs. The House included $125,000 in its budget to fund the program.

The House on Thursday concurred with Senate amendments to H. 1581 Electronic Register of Deeds Filings (Drew Saunders) and the measure was enrolled.

State Government
Work progresses on improving train travel between Triangle, Triad
The N.C. Department of Transportation, North Carolina Railroad and Norfolk Southern have partnered to improve the railroad near Mebane and McLeansville. Crews are lengthening and upgrading two rail passing sidings - or short segments of track alongside stretches of single-track railroad. Once completed, the new two-mile-long sidings will reduce train traffic congestion and delays by allowing passenger trains to more easily pass the longer freight trains.

Construction Began Tuesday to upgrade the existing siding along Norfolk Southern's main line between Fifth Street and the former Walton Road Crossing in Mebane. As part of the construction project, the DOT will close the Mattress Factory Road and Buckhorn Road crossings for three to five days while Norfolk Southern replaces the rails and crossties and resurfaces the crossings. The Mebane siding upgrade and extension project is expected to take three to four weeks. Upon completing work in Mebane, crews will begin work to upgrade and extend the siding in McLeansville. During construction, Carmon Road will be closed for three to five days while crews replace crossties and upgrade the tracks. Crews also will close McLeansville Road for a few weeks while they extend the rail siding.

The longer rail sidings are part of a $24 million rail improvement project underway between Cary and Greensboro to improve efficiency, increase capacity and reduce travel time along the busy rail corridor. Once work is completed, travel time between the two cities will be reduced by at least 20 minutes.

DOT plans hearing on Carteret County airport runway extension
The N. C. Department of Transportation will hold a formal public hearing for the proposed extension of a runway at the Michael J. Smith Airport in Beaufort, Carteret County. The hearing will be Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Carteret County Commission Board Room in the County Administration Building on Courthouse Square in Beaufort. The Beaufort-Morehead City Airport Authority proposes to construct a runway extension of 751 feet to accommodate existing and future demand at the airport. Copies of the Environmental Assessment discussing the proposed runway extension are available for public review at the Public Library in Emerald Isle, the Library on Howard Boulevard in Newport, the Carteret County Library on Turner Street, the Morehead City Public Library on 9th Street, and the Michael J. Smith Airport Manager's Office at Airport Road in Beaufort.

Legal Beat
The N.C. Court of Appeals handed down several interesting decisions this week, including:

Contributory Negligence: Ruling on a technical issue, the N.C. Court of Appeals on Tuesday ordered a new trial for a man who walked behind the buffet table at Mid-Pines Inn and Golf Resort, tripped on an electrical cord, fell and injured his back. The ruling overturns a Wake County Superior Court jury verdict that Alan Barringer was partially to blame for the accident by walking on the wrong side of the buffet table. In an opinion written by Chief Judge Sid Eagles, in which Judge Albert Thomas concurred, the court held that the jury should have been allowed to hear testimony that the food on the buffet table was so visually appealing that it distracted Barringer's attention. The distraction may have absolved him from contributory negligence, the Appeals Court said. Judge John Tyson dissented. "On several occasions, plaintiff had traveled to the buffet, was warned not to go behind the table, and had safely traversed the same cord that he later tripped over," Tyson wrote. The case is No. COA 01-960.

Tort Claims Act: A worker on a state-owned ferry boat on the Outer Banks who hurt his back in a fall on the slippery deck of the boat, and who had received workers' comp payments for his injures, cannot now sue the state Department of Transportation under the Tort Claims Act, the N.C. Court of Appeals held in a ruling Tuesday. The Tort Claims Act allows lawsuits against the state for injuries due to negligence if the negligence arose under circumstances where the state, if a private person, would be liable under the laws of North Carolina. The Industrial Commission dismissed the Tort Claims Act petition by Leland Midgett, and he appealed to the Court of Appeals, which upheld the decision. The opinion was written by Judge Robin Hudson, concurred in by judges K. Edward Greene and Loretta C. Biggs. The case is No. COA 01-1081.

Punitive Damages: A patron of a Charlotte area bar is entitled to actual and punitive damages against the establishment for injuries he sustained when he was punched and kicked by a off-duty bouncer as the manager of the establishment watched. In upholding the $15,760 punitive damage award by a jury, the Court of Appeals appears to widen corporations' liability for actions by mid-level managers under the "corporate complicity" doctrine. Judge John Tyson concurred in part but dissented to that part of the opinion which concluded that the restaurant manager held the same responsibility and liability as an officer of the restaurant chain. "The majority's opinion isolates the word 'managers,' removes it from its contextual setting, and then defines the word 'managers' using Webster's Dictionary. This approach is inconsistent with established canons of statutory construction," Tyson wrote in his dissent. The majority opinion was written by Judge John C. Martin. Judge Albert Thomas concurred. The case is No. COA 01-1282.

Tax Exempt Status: A non-profit group that trains missionaries for service in rugged conditions overseas is entitled to tax-exempt status on the 100 acres of its Graham County property where such programs are conducted but not on 1,247 acres of surrounding undeveloped land, the Court of Appeals ruled in upholding the N.C. Property Tax Commission. The Master's Mission owns 1,347 acres in Graham County along the Tennessee border where it trains missionaries to build roads, dig wells, farming and other skills that would be helpful in a Third World County. It operates those programs on a 100-acre tract. The rest of the property is wilderness. The Graham County Tax Assessor granted tax-exempt status to the 100 acres but not the rest of the property. The non-profit appealed to the Tax Commission, lost, and then took the case to the Court of Appeals and lost again. The opinion in the case, No. COA 01-990, was written by Judge Robin Hudson and concurred in by judges K. Edward Greene and Loretta C. Biggs.

Eye on Washington
Manufacturers call for business-government partnership to control healthcare costs
Warning that “no employment sector provides more or higher quality health coverage than the manufacturing sector, but manufacturers cannot absorb skyrocketing health care costs indefinitely," the National Association of Manufacturers released a research report Tuesday that calls for a first-of-its-kind cooperation between government and business to control costs.

“If small and medium U.S. manufacturers continue to face double-digit health care inflation that averaged more than 13 percent increases some faced this past year, it won’t be long before they’re forced to eliminate health care benefits. We must act now to improve the quality of health care as a means to both cut costs and improve the quality of care,” NAM President Jerry Jasinowski said. the NAM and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are NCCBI's Washington affiliates.

Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the NAM report, "Health Care at the Crossroads: Manufacturers’ Agenda for Lower Costs and Higher Quality," provides detailed analysis of these increasing cost pressures on manufacturers as well as recommended strategies that can help reduce costs and maximize employee benefits, the quality of care and, most important, overall worker health. The report is based on a survey of 750 manufacturers.

One direction manufacturers can choose involves a stronger emphasis on quality and better employee health management. The report suggests this direction will be more readily pursued – particularly by small and medium manufacturers – if officials can develop comprehensive sources of consumer information about health in general and the specific quality of care offered by competitive providers.

“Both employers and their workers could share such information in making smarter, healthier choices for the future,” Jasinowski said. Accordingly, the NAM report advocates a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and business that would establish a clearinghouse for information about the quality of health care being delivered by various providers nationwide. “Quality health care upfront means reduced costs in the long run. What the manufacturing sector and all of business needs desperately is a comprehensive mechanism whereby the quality of health care options can be measured and evaluated, and the NAM believes that a public and private sector partnership could well provide it.”

The report suggests a combination of tools to help small and medium manufacturers reduce costs and improve quality including:

• Promoting healthy behavior both inside and outside the workplace through management-employee partnerships;
• Instituting wellness programs with specific health goals backed by financial incentives for participating workers;
• Increasing health education through various media, especially internet communications;
• Encouraging health promotion and education for smaller businesses through a new federal health care education program;
• Helping more workers and individuals afford quality health insurance coverage through health insurance tax credits and deductions;
• Relieving cost pressures on smaller businesses through association purchasing programs; and
• Collaboration between companies, hospitals and physician groups to monitor and reduce medical errors by physicians
and other medical providers.

“And finally, it should be noted that too often Congress has acted to increase health care costs for manufacturers and other businesses. We strongly urge lawmakers to refrain from adopting additional mandates and instead work to alleviate cost pressures through association health plans, refundable health insurance tax credits and deductions. Many such proposals have been introduced and President Bush has endorsed the concept,” concluded Jasinowski.

EPA gives Concord $100,000 to clean up brownfield
The Environmental Protection Agency’s has announced a $100,000 brownfields grant to Concord to help the city clean up contamination from leaking underground storage tanks along Cabarrus Avenue. The grant was one of 40 totaling $3.8 million awarded to 26 states and three tribes as part of EPA’s UST Fields Initiative pilot program, designed to clean up petroleum contamination in brownfields communities. Running through several neighborhoods and commercial areas, Cabarrus Avenue is the scene of a multi-phase revitalization project designed to stimulate economic growth. The presence of five tanks has been confirmed and two more are suspected. The funds will be used to assess and clean petroleum and MTBE contamination. Dexter Matthews, director of the state Division of Waste Management, welcomed news of the grant. "This grant represents success in expanding the many benefits of cleanup and revitalization of contaminated brownfield properties to sites with contamination resulting from underground storage tank releases," he said.

Other news from Washington:

WTO Sanctions: The long-awaited WTO sanctions report was released after numerous delays on 8/30. The report, originally scheduled to be released last April, was a complete victory for the EU, authorizing the full amount of trade sanctions they had requested rather than the smaller $1 billion argued for by the U.S. While, as a practical matter, the EU cannot impose anywhere near that amount without incurring severe economic consequences of their own, they could still cause serious damage to the U.S. economy with lesser amounts if targeted strategically. The NAM and the German Industry Association (BDI) on 8/30 urged the EU to hold off given the interdependence of the EU and U.S. economies.

Edwards Plans New Source Review Rider : Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) will offer an amendment to EPA funding bill S. 2797 that would derail Administration plans to reform the Clean Air Act's New Source Review rule. The bill is likely to come to the floor this month. A joint industry letter co-signed by the NAM on 8/20 complimented the Administration's plans, which would result in "cleaner air and increased energy efficiency."

Chemical Bill Floated as Amendment to Homeland Security Bill : Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) may soon offer his chemical "security" bill, S. 1602, as an amendment to the Homeland Security Department bill. The NAM and key industry groups in a letter to senators last week said S. 1602 would grant EPA sweeping new authority "that may be detrimental to advancing our nation's critical infrastructure security."

Major Energy Issues Still Unresolved: Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), chair of the House-Senate conference on energy legislation, says he wants to wrap up work on the conference report to H.R. 4 by 9/30. Major issues remain unresolved, including onerous Senate titles on climate change and renewable portfolio standards. Meanwhile, key senators have promised to torpedo the legislation if it includes House-passed provisions permitting limited, environmentally sound oil/gas exploration in ANWR.

News in Brief: Published reports say that House Appropriations Committee Chair Bill Young (R-FL) may seek to bring a Labor-HHS appropriations bill to the House floor without it being marked up in committee. Young opposes the Administration's position on a spending ceiling for that bill. ... The House on Wednesday fell short of the two-thirds needed for a suspension-of-rules passage of legislation to make permanent the education tax benefits in the 2001 tax-cut bill, which expires in 2010. The vote was 213-188.

Latest polls: Texas Senate -- Cornyn (R) over Kirk (D) 37-32 percent; New Hampshire GOP Senate Primary -- Sununu leads Smith 56-34; Kentucky House -- Northup over Conway 46-36; North Dakota Possible 2004 Senate Race --Sen. Dorgan (D) over former Gov. Schafer (R) 49-43.

NCCBI News
Responding to membership survey, panel revises format for annual meeting
NCCBI members gave the association high marks on the satisfaction survey that was conducted this spring. Nearly 500 members returned completed questionnaires, for a healthy 23 percent response rate. On a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest possible, members gave NCCBI a score of 6.0 on the statement, “Overall, I am satisfied with NCCBI.” Members also gave the association high marks for delivering timely information on legislative activities, for publishing a high-quality magazine and for delivering good value for the dues paid.

This was the first time that NCCBI has systematically taken the pulse of the entire membership. The survey was a project initiated by NCCBI Chair Jim Hyler of Raleigh, the First Citizens Bank executive, who said he felt feedback from members would help the association judge how good a job it was doing, and make adjustments. NCCBI commissioned Insight Research in Greensboro to conduct the survey, whose $6,500 cost was paid by First Citizens.

In unveiling the survey results to the NCCBI Executive Committee on Sept. 4 at the Triangle Area Meeting, Hyler said the data show members have positive views on most aspects of NCCBI but they also have some ideas for improvement. One area that needs improving is the Annual Meeting, which members gave a relatively low score of 5.0. Members’ written comments on the survey indicated they thought the day was too long and something should be done to shorten the program.

The quarterly Executive Committee meeting preceded the NCCBI Triangle Area Meeting at the Angus Barn. About 315 members attended the event.

Hyler told the Executive Committee that, after discussions with the NCCBI staff and consulting several members for their input, he recommended that the dinner portion of the Annual Meeting be discontinued in favor of expanding the evening reception held on the floor of the Expo trade show. Both the Citation for Distinguished Public Service and the Citation for Distinguished Citizenship would be presented at the luncheon. The afternoon seminars and other related meetings that normally occur after the luncheon still would be held. The entire program would be over by 7 p.m. following the expanded reception.

“Reading the comments, I think this type format is the kind of program a lot of our members are telling us they would prefer,” Hyler said. That feeling was echoed in the comments of several Executive Committee members. While they were reluctant to change the format used at the Annual Meeting for decades, they said it was important to listen to members’ views because they buy the tickets.

NCCBI President Phil Kirk agreed. “Members have told me for years that the part of the Annual Meeting they like best is the reception. Networking is important to them. This change means we will be giving them more of what they already like instead of a long dinner program at the end of a long day.”

A motion was adopted directing the NCCBI staff to plan the 2003 Annual Meeting along the revamped format.

Here are more results from the survey. Members gave the association 6.0 scores on these questions:

“I feel NCCBI’s staff is effective in working with the legislature.”
“I feel NCCBI’s staff is effective in working with its members.”
“I feel NCCBI is an effective advocate for business and industry interests.”
“I feel NCCBI is an effective advocate for professions.”
“We expect to continue our membership in NCCBI.”

Hyler tempered that last item in noting that the data show that NCCBI’s largest members gave less-positive responses about their continued membership in the association, a fact he said the staff and the board should keep in mind.

Asked to rate the importance of several issues NCCBI focuses on, members ranked them this way:

1. Reducing regulation on business.
2. Lobbying representation
3. Controlling healthcare costs
4. Reducing taxes on business
5. Improving K-12 public schools
6. Improving university/college education
7. Organizing statewide campaigns and coalitions
8. Improving the environment
9. Publishing the North Carolina magazine
10. Networking opportunities.

The survey shows NCCBI has members of all sizes; 28 percent of respondents work at companies with just1-9 employees; on the other hand, another 25 percent are at companies with 250 or more. Manufacturers continue to be the largest type of member, at 20 percent, followed by professionals (15 percent), educational institutions (13 percent), non-profits (12 percent, including local chambers), financial services (9 percent), wholesale and retail (6 percent) and governmental (5 percent).

Young Executives Forum attracts record attendance in Greensboro
More than 70 members of NCCBI’s Young Executives Forum gathered at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro for their summer meeting, “Home Grown Recipes for Success” on Aug. 23. This action-packed event was kicked off by Jerry Neal, co-founder and executive vice president of marketing and strategic development for RF Micro Devices. He shared the RF Micro Devices story and discussed the company’s growth as the premier manufacturer of radio frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) for the wireless communications sector. In addition he shared some of his personal insights for success.

Next on the agenda was Judy Mendenhall, president of the International Home Furnishings Market Authority, who led a discussion of the growth and success of the world-renowned High Point furniture market. She was joined by Gary Trotter of Trotter Decorating and Construction and Larry Richardson of Contemporary Landscapes Inc.

Gary Castellano, a trainer with The Memory Training Institute, in Portland, Conn., shared some powerful and proven tips and techniques for building memory skills. He spoke on "The Benefits of a Mighty Memory" and gave demonstrations showing what a person is capable of doing with their memory.

Patricia McRitchie, vice president and legal compliance director of Shelton Winery, talked about how Shelton has become a part of the growing wine industry in the state.

Following the session there was time for networking during a luncheon. For those who were willing to brave the 100-degree heat, the networking continued on Grandover’s world class West course. It was a powerful day of learning from some of the Triad’s most successful businesses. From Castellano, they gained a chance to strengthen our memory skills while having the chance to network with our peers from across the state.

The Young Executives Forum's next meeting is Dec. 13 in Charlotte. If you would like to learn more about joining the forum, please contact Cindy Privette at 919-836-1404 or email her at cprivette@nccbi.org.

(Note: Tracy Crevar of Dixon Odom, vice chair of the Young Executives Forum, authored this article and was instrumental in planning the exceptional meeting in Greensboro. She spent an undeterminable amount of time and energy putting together an agenda that was both informative and entertaining.)

Are you registered for the NCCBI membership meeting in your area?
Hundreds of NCCBI members have sent in their registration forms to attend one of the 19 area meetings coming up in September and October. We hope you plan to attend one, because this year we've updated the format to make the meetings more informative for you -- including a question and answer session at the end of each meeting. If you haven't already registered, please consult the calendar below to select the event you'd like to attend. Then, send in the registration brochure we previously mailed to all members. It's not a problem if you can't locate the brochure; you can register by e-mail at the NCCBI web site by clicking on http://www.nccbi.org/2002.Area.Meeting.Form.htm. See you there!

September
26	Thursday	5:30 p.m.	Rocky Mount Area Meeting Reception, Benvenue Country Club
30	Monday	7:30 a.m.	Asheville Area Meeting Breakfast, Grove Park Inn, Asheville
30	Monday	11:45 a.m.	Boone Area Meeting Luncheon, Broyhill Inn
October
1	Tuesday	11:45 a.m.	Charlotte Area Meeting Luncheon, Charlotte Marriott City Center
1	Tuesday	5:30 p.m.	Salisbury Area Meeting Reception, Salisbury Country Club
7	Monday	5:30 p.m.	Greensboro Area Meeting Reception, Grandover Resort
8	Tuesday	7:30 a.m.	High Point Area Meeting Breakfast, String & Splinter
8	Tuesday	11:45 a.m.	Winston-Salem Area Meeting Luncheon, Salem College
8	Tuesday	5:30 p.m.	Statesville Area Meeting Reception, Statesville Civic Center
15	Tuesday	11:45 a.m.	Elon Area Meeting Luncheon, Elon University, Mosley Center
21	Monday	5:30 p.m.	Greenville Area Meeting Reception, Hilton Greenville
22	Tuesday	11:45 a.m.	New Bern Area Meeting Luncheon, Riverfront Convention Center
22	Tuesday	5:30 p.m.	Kinston Area Meeting Reception, Kinston Country Club
23	Wednesday	11:45 a.m.	Fayetteville Area Meeting Luncheon, Holiday Inn Bordeaux
23	Wednesday	5:30 p.m.	Wilmington Area Meeting Reception, City Club at deRosset House
24	Thursday	11:45 a.m.	Southern Pines Area Meeting Luncheon, Mid Pines
29	Tuesday	11:45 a.m.	Hickory Area Meeting Luncheon, Holiday Inn Select
30	Wednesday	11:45 a.m.	Elizabeth City Area Meeting Luncheon, Pine Lakes Country Club

Original copy of Declaration of Independence tours North Carolina
An original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be displayed in North Carolina as a part of the Southern leg of its three-and-a-half-year cross-country trek. The exhibition will be at the Charlotte Museum of History from Sept. 26-Oct. 6 and at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh from Oct. 12-20. The exhibit features an original copy of the Declaration that was acquired by TV producer Norman Lear with the goal of bringing the “people’s document” directly to Americans — especially young people — to inspire them to participate in civic activism, to exercise their rights, and above all, to vote. The Declaration, one of 25 remaining printed on July 4, 1776, is the only one traveling the country.

Easley announces memorial ceremony to mark Sept. 11 attacks
Gov. Mike Easley and First Lady Mary Easley invite the public to attend a special ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 11 on the State Capitol grounds (Hillsborough Street side) at 11 a.m. to honor those who perished in the terrorists' attack. Special guests scheduled to participate include: Gov. and Mrs. Easley, Secretary of Crime Control & Public Safety Bryan Beatty, Adjutant General William E. Ingram Jr., and Raleigh City Mayor Charles Meeker. Guests will hear patriotic music from the Raleigh Concert Band, Carolina Harmony Chorus, Sweet Adelines International, and others.

Dr. John Larry Keen, an official with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, was name vice president for economic and workforce development for the state Community College System.

U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, 80, returned to his Washington office Wednesday about five months after undergoing heart surgery to replace a worn-out valve.

Betsy Conti was named the new chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, replacing Kaye Gattis, who is retiring after nearly 30 years in state government. Conti was Maryland's deputy secretary of labor and previously was vice president for government relations at the Welfare to Work Partnership, a national non-profit organization based in Washington D.C

James W. Kirkpatrick, a retired colonel with a background in training health care personnel, was named Tuesday to head the state Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at the Division of Public Health.